Next meeting — Monday, 7th February 2011 at 7.30 p.m.
Hartley school building, corner Mid Hartley Rd and Great Western Highway. Please bring a plate to share for supper.

President's report— What a busy year we have had! And it must be admitted that it has taken it’s toll in terms of energy and commitment. We began with a wonderful day on Australia Day, with many people turning up to enjoy a most convivial social get together and some silly games. Then there was the meeting to look at the future of the valley, and a Boot and Ute Sale, at the same time as we were looking at a new constitution, and a general meeting once a month in order to try and get through the workload. The 1813 committee got off the ground and began planning, and there was the second Valley future meeting, which has culminated in a very professional document being taken to Council. We had a very successful Big Backyard, which returned some $5,500 towards restoration of the Old School. We are currently preparing a grant application to erect some signs promoting the historical aspects of the valley, and then we might have a little rest.

I would like to thank and congratulate the many people who have assisted Progress towards it’s goals this year; for the selfless efforts they have put in. It is heart-warming to see the community coming together for the betterment of all. Well done!

Which is not to imply that we are insular in outlook... far from it. Those who worked so well this year need a break, and it would be marvellous to be able to welcome new faces to the meetings. Assisting may be as simple as joining in a group discussion to plan something, making a few phone calls, or spending an hour and a half helping to deliver the newsletter that you are reading now. As Confucius said, “Many hands make light work”, and he wasn’t talking about repairing the globe in the bedside lamp! Even if your time is all spoken for, do come to the meetings (see next item) and say hello.

On Australia day we will announce the 2011 Spirit of Hartley award winner. Have you got somebody in mind that you think should be recognised for the outstanding contribution they have made to the valley community during 2010? If you do, drop me a short line outlining your thoughts and I will pass it on for inclusion in the list to be considered for the 2011 award.

May the festive season be all that you hope for, and the days of summer full of joy.

Thank you Pam — At the recent Annual General Meeting of the Association, office bearers were returned unopposed, with the exception of the Hall Hire Officer. Pam Day did not stand for re-election, and has decided to move on to other good works in the district. We owe Pam a debt of gratitude for her sterling work over the past decade. She was instrumental in establishing the Big Backyard, and has been a tireless worker for the Association. She carried the Hall Hire Job off with aplomb, and is a major figure in the history of both the Association and the Valley. We wish her all the best for the future, and say a very large "Thank you" for all her work.

Barbara Johnson, the treasurer, has stepped in to the gap, and will be happy to take your calls should you need the hall. She can be reached on 6355 2017.

Hartley Highway Action Group [HHAG] update No. 12— The RTA have been active in the area again, holding meeting on the Bells Line of Road Strategy (BLOR) in late November, whilst in October they held meetings to provide feedback on the results of their safety review of the Mt Vic to Lithgow stretch of the highway. The key findings of the safety review look promising, it would appear that all issues that the community have raised have been taken into account. A definitive list of proposed enhancements will be completed in early 2011 at which time the Hartley Highway Action Group (HHAG) subcommittee will assess the proposal. In the meantime we are already seeing the commencement of safety enhancement work on the Victoria Pass.

The Bells Line of Road Strategy project has two dimensions. One is the reservation of a road corridor for a possible major upgrade post 2033, and the other relates to the determination of safety and general enhancements that might be made to the existing road in the short term. A HHAG deputation has met with the RTA and has also lodged a submission on the road via the Forum website the RTA has set up at https://bellslineofroad.discussions.nsw.gov.au/?p=37&cpage=2 . This is the first time the RTA has used a public forum website to seek community views. It is interesting to see the range of views and opinions that have been lodged on the site, amongst which you will find the HHAG submission dated about 3rd December. The RTA would welcome your views, which can be submitted on the forum site up until 22nd December.

HHAG has used the website to restate the valley’s longstanding strategy which has been enlivened by the new BLOR strategy work. Essentially the position has been put, ‘why spend $2bn coming through the valley when for less than a billion you could build the west end of an upgraded Bells Line of Road all the way from Mt Victoria to Marrangaroo’. In the short term: 1, do the safety work on Victoria Pass, 2, do the Little Hartley By Pass and the other safety recommendations coming from the Mt Vic to Lithgow safety review and 3, divert the money earmarked to do the southern bypass of River Lett Hill to do immediate safety enhancement work on the Bells Line of Road. HHAG will also be seeking out relevant politicians to put this proposal that now seems a compelling proposition.

If you want to discuss any element of either the Bells Line of Road Project or the Great Western Highway upgrade, call Ramsay Moodie, the current HHAG chairman, on 6355 2259 or 0412 283 800. www.hhag.com.au

1813 Sub committee of HDPA— As previously announced an HDPA sub committee is working on the question of what to do to commemorate the bicentenary of the 1813 crossing of the Blue Mountains by Blaxland Lawson and Wentworth. The following is a list of ideas that has been assembled to date from suggestions made by members of the community and the committee.

• Date signing all the European heritage assets in the valley to lift people’s appreciation of the valley as a nationally significant heritage place.
• Exploring the possibility of an extended walk along portions of Cox’s Road.
• The development of an inventory of early residence sites in the valley, where the residence no longer exists or is in a state of advanced ruin.
• Nomination of the valley or a section of it as a heritage place under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
• An acknowledgement of the impact that early European settlement had on the traditional custodians of the valley.
• Lobbying for the nomination of the valley escarpment as a National park.
• A “sculpture in the landscape” exhibition, a la Sculpture by the Sea, and themed on the original crossing of the Blue Mountains by Europeans.
• A specific commemorative sculpture dedicated to the original crossing of the Blue Mountains by Europeans.
• A history symposium conducted in the village as an annual event for history academics.
• The promotion of the Hartley Historic Site as a working village
• Something associated with the release of Alan Bardsley’s, film ‘The Road ’ recounting the story of the building of Cox’s road.
• Antique motorbike race or concourse de elegance mounted on the old Hartley Vale motor bike circuit
• An exhibition of historic photographs.
• The production of an historic musical
• Some sort of broadly promoted bush poetry event relevant to the original crossing.
• A commemorative dinner or similar function.
• The droving of 200 head of cattle down the escarpment as an exercise to commemorate John Grants delivery of the first herd of cattle into the valley in 1816.
• The development of a heritage based walking or bicycling track/s from Mt Victoria to Lithgow.

In his role of chairman of this committee Duncan Wass said “we have been delighted with the range of suggestions people have made, so keep them coming.” He continued, saying “the challenge is going to be how we settle on the ideas with most potential, and then comes the very big job of turning them into a reality”. If anyone has any further suggestions don’t hesitate to call Steve Ring, Joan Kent or Duncan Wass.

The Roads— While we appreciate that this very wet season is causing havoc all over the state, the size of some of the canyons in the roads is now terrifying. Some of the problem is down to inadequate maintenance of the shoulders of the roads, as the accumulated gravel and grass serves to keep the water on the road, instead of allowing it to drain. Thus the road becomes a creek in the rainy periods and traffic exposes any little weakness in the pavement.

It always helps to let the Council know when there is a pothole (or 20!) in your street. A polite letter can work wonders, and the more that arrive at council, the more the size of the problem is understood. So out with those keyboards and write to council@lithgow.nsw.gov.au